Units

Key messages

Energy-related emissions of primary particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5, account for 68% and 81% of total PM10 and PM2.5 emissions respectively in the EEA-32 in 2009. These energy related emissions fell by 7% and 10% respectively between 2005 and 2009 and 31% and 35% between 1990 and 2009. The most important reductions were achieved in the energy supply sectors (Energy Industries and Fugitive emissions) as a result of fuel switching from coal and oil to natural gas.

Note:‘Energy combustion’ includes all energy-related emissions minus fugitives the graph shows the emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere)

Key assessment

Overall,
PM10 and PM2.5 emissions decreased by 21% and 29%
respectively in all EEA member countries and 21% and 28% respectively in the
EU-27 between 1990 and 2008. Energy related PM10 and PM2.5 emissions
have fallen by 25% and 31% respectively in the EU and EEA member countries
between 1990 and 2008, with reductions occurring from all sources except
Agriculture (PM10 only) (see
Figure 1). Energy-related emissions represented 67% and 79% of total PM10
and PM2.5 emissions respectively in the EEA-32 in 2008 (see Figure
2).

The
reduction in energy–related emissions has mainly been achieved through a
combination of using lower sulphur content fuels, fuel switching from coal and
oil to natural gas, the deployment of emission abatement technologies in the
energy supply and industry sectors, and an increased market penetration of road
vehicles equipped with catalytic converters.

In
2008, Commercial, institutional and households is the largest source of
emissions accounting for nearly 29% and 36% of all EU-27 PM10 and PM2.5
emissions respectively (see Figure 2). Domestic coal combustion has
traditionally been the major source of particulate emissions in the EU-27[1] followed
by Road transport. Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 are
expected to further decrease significantly between 2008 and 2010 (despite an
increasing popularity in many countries of diesel vehicles, which have higher
particulate emissions than petrol vehicles), as improved vehicle engine
technologies continue to be adopted and stationary fuel combustion emissions
are controlled through abatement measures (including particulate filters) or
use of low sulphur fuels such as natural gas.

PM10
and PM2.5 emissions have decreased significantly in 18 out of 28 EEA
member countries[2],
with the largest PM10 reductions being reported in the United Kingdom, Estonia
and the Netherlands
(see Figure 3). However, in a few countries PM10 emissions increased
during the period with increases of over 100 % in Bulgaria
and Romania
due to substantial increase in emissions from the Commercial, institutional and
households sector. However these significant increases could also be a result
of better emissions reporting under the LRTAP Convention.

Despite
the reductions in emissions already achieved, it is expected that in the near
future concentrations of PM10 in urban areas in the EEA region
remain well above the short-term limit air quality values[3].
Substantial further reductions in all sectors are therefore needed to reach the
air quality limit values set in the Directive 2008/50/EC on
ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. Additional measures to reduce
the sulphur content of diesel and petrol fuels have been decided upon
(Directive 2003/17/EC), which include the availability of the sulphur-free
(<10 ppm sulphur or ‘zero sulphur’) fuel, and complete transition to
sulphur-free fuel by 2009.

Emissions
trends of secondary PM10 precursors (the
fraction of NOx, SO2, and NH3 emissions which,
as a result of photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere, transform into
particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less) can be found in EEA’s
main air pollution fact sheets on NOx, SO2 and NH3,
and energy-related emissions in ENER05 and ENER06.

Specific assessment

The reduction in energy–related emissions has mainly been achieved through a combination of using lower sulphur content fuels, fuel switching from coal and oil to natural gas, the deployment of emission abatement technologies in the energy supply and industry sectors.

Domestic coal combustion has traditionally been the major source of particulate emissions in the EU-27[1]. Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected to further decrease significantly between 2009 and 2010 because stationary fuel combustion emissions are controlled through abatement measures (including particulate filters) or use of low sulphur fuels such as natural gas.

Specific assessment

Emissions of Road transport decreased by 10% (PM10) and 16% (PM2.5) in EEA and EU-27countries. Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected to further decrease significantly between 2009 and 2010 (despite an increasing popularity in many countries of diesel vehicles, which have higher particulate emissions than petrol vehicles), as improved vehicle engine technologies continue to be adopted and an increased market penetration of road vehicles equipped with catalytic converters.

Data sources

Justification for indicator selection

Energy-related emissions of primary PM10 (i.e. particulate matter with a diameter of 10μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere), and secondary PM10 precursors (the fraction of NOx, SO2, and NH3 emissions which, as a result of photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere, transform into particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less), contribute to elevated levels of fine particles in the atmosphere. The inhalation of such particles has harmful effects on human health and may increase the frequency and severity of a number of respiratory problems, which may increase the risk of premature death.

Rationale

Energy-related emissions of primary PM10 and PM2.5[1], contribute to elevated levels of fine particles in the atmosphere. The inhalation of such particles has harmful effects on human health and may increase the frequency and severity of a number of respiratory problems and increase the risk of premature deaths. Reducing emissions of particulate matter will therefore result in improved human health condition. In addition, some primary particulate matter such as black carbon contribute to increased radiative forcing, therefore reducing the emission levels of these particles will also contribute to climate change mitigation.

[1] PM10 definition according to article 2 (18) (DIRECTIVE 2008/50/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, Official Journal L 152 , 11/06/2008 P. 5 ): "PM10” shall mean particulate matter which passes through a size-selective inlet as defined in the reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM10, EN 12341, with a 50 % efficiency cut-off at 10 μm aerodynamic diameter;.

Scientific references:

No rationale references
available

Policy context and targets

Context description

Levels of fine particulate matter and precursor emissions are controlled in the European Union by 3 main types of regulation:

Air quality standards.

Emission standards for specific (mobile or stationary) sources.

National emission ceilings and transboundary air pollution standards for emission precursors.

There are no direct emission limits or targets for primary PM10 within the European Union, although there are limits on emissions of the precursor pollutants NOx, SO2 and NH3. Limit values for the concentration of PM10 are set under EU Directive 99/30/EC relating to ambient air quality assessment and management (European Commission 1999).

Several EU-wide limits and targets exist for the reduction of SO2, NOx and NH3 emissions, including the National Emissions Ceiling (NEC) Directive (2001/81/EC) and the Gothenburg Protocol of the UNECE LRTAP Convention (UNECE 1999). These are discussed further in factsheet EN06. As part of the review of the NEC Directive that is currently taking place, the feasibility of introducing national emission ceiling targets for particulate matter is being investigated. A proposal for the revised directive is expected in 2013.

Targets

There are no specific EU emission
targets for primary PM10. However, emissions of the precursors NOx,
SOx and NH3 are covered by the NECD and the Gothenburg Protocol to the UNECE
LRTAP Convention. Both instruments contain emission ceilings (limits) that
countries must meet by 2010.

See also indicators CSI 003: http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/emissions-of-primary-particles-and-5

Related policy documents

Directive 2001/81/EC, on nation al emissions ceilings (NECD) for certain atmospheric pollutants. Emission reduction targets for the new EU10 Member States have been specified in the Treaty of Accession to the European Union 2003 [The Treaty of Accession 2003 of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. AA2003/ACT/Annex II/en 2072] in order that they can comply with the NECD.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Indicator is based on officially reported national total and sectoral emissions to UNECE/EMEP (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/Co-operative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention), submission 2010. Recommended methodologies for emission inventory estimation are compiled in the EMEP/CORINAIR Atmospheric Emission Inventory guidebook, EEA Copenhagen (EEA, 2009). Base data are available from the EEA Data Service (http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/dataservice/metadetails.asp?id=1096) and the EMEP web site (http://www.ceip.at/). Where necessary, gaps in reported data are filled by ETC/ACC using simple interpolation techniques (see below). The final gap-filled data used in this indicator is available from the EEA Data Service (http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/dataservice/metadetails.asp?id=1058).

Base data, reported in NFR are aggregated into the following EEA sector codes to obtain a common reporting format across all countries and pollutants:

Energy Industries: emissions from public heat and electricity generation, oil refining, production of solid fuels, extraction and distribution of solid fossil fuels and geothermal energy;

Industrial processes: emissions derived from non-combustion related processes such as the production of minerals, chemicals and metal production;

Household and services: emissions principally occurring from fuel combustion in the services and household sectors;

Manufacturing and Constructions: emissions from combustion processes used in the manufacturing industry including boilers, gas turbines and stationary engines;

Other non-energy (Solvent and product use): non-combustion related emissions mainly in the services and households sectors including activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents;

The following table shows the conversion of Nomenclature for Reporting (NFR) sector codes used for reporting by countries into EEA sector codes:

EEA classification

Non-GHGs (NFR)

GHG (CRF)

National totals

National total

National totals without LUCF

Energy Industries

1A1

1A1

Fugitive emissions

1B1, 1B2

1B

Road transport

1A3b

1A3b

Non-road transport (non-road mobile machinery)

1A3 (exl 1A3b)

1A3a, 1A3c, 1A3d, 1A3e

Industrial processes

2

2

Other non-energy (Solvent and product use)

3, 7A

3

Agriculture

4

4

Waste

6

6

Household and services

1A4ai, 1A4aii, 1A4bi, 1A5a

1A4A, 1A4B

Manufacturing / Construction

1A2

1A2

Methodology for gap filling

No methodology for gap filling has been specified. Probably this info has been added together with indicator calculation.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Officially reported data following agreed procedures
and Emission Inventory Guidebook (EEA 2009) Primary PM10 data
reported by countries remains uncertain in terms of quality for many countries.
In many cases the available reported data does not include all years.

Data sets uncertainty

The reported primary PM10 data is likely to be very uncertain. Much of the uncertainty in the overall reported PM10 emissions comes from uncertainties associated with emission factors. For many countries there is little country-specific data available from which PM10 emission factors can be determined. Emission factors in the literature can be very variable due to the differences that occur between sector processes both within and between different countries. For many countries a complete time series of PM10 data is not available from 1990, and so significant interpolation and extrapolation has had to be performed to obtain a complete time series of data. Similarly not all countries report emissions from every sector. In contrast, the uncertainties of sulphur dioxide emission estimates in Europe are relatively low, as the sulphur emitted comes from the fuel burnt and therefore can be accurately estimated. However, because of the need for interpolation to account for missing data the complete dataset used here will have higher uncertainty. EMEP has compared modelled (which include emission data as one of the model parameters) and measured concentrations throughout Europe (EMEP 2005). From these studies the uncertainties associated with the modelled annual averages for a specific point in time have been estimated in the order of ±30 %. This is consistent with an inventory uncertainty of ±10 % (with additional uncertainties arising from the other model parameters, modelling methodologies, and the air quality measurement data etc). NOx emission estimates in Europe are thought to have higher uncertainty than pollutants such as SO2, as the NOx emitted comes both from the fuel burnt and the combustion air and so cannot be estimated accurately from fuel nitrogen alone. EMEP has compared modelled and measured concentrations throughout Europe (EMEP 2005). From these studies differences for individual monitoring stations of more than a factor of two have been found. This is consistent with an inventory of national annual emissions having an uncertainty of ±30% or greater (there are also uncertainties in the air quality measurements and especially the modelling). The trend is likely to be much more accurate than for individual absolute annual values; the annual values are not independent of each other. However it is not clear that all countries backdate changes to methodologies so early years may have been estimated on a different basis to later years.